The overdue discussion (or should we say outright war) over immigration reform now in full swing with many absurd and ridiculous statements floating around. Let's look at a few:

     "Fox should be doing more to stop illegal immigrants going north from México". To those who think that México should build a fence to keep Mexicans in, get real. This type of confinement went out with the Soviet Union. Mexicans are free to travel where they wish. On the other hand, the forces driving Mexicans out of México are something else. As long as the huge gap in earnings between the US and México exists; as long as there is employment available in the US, this will continue. Two more things: México could gradually raise the standard of living here, but as long as the business elite continue to exploit cheap labor here, this won't happen. Conversely, as long as there is a need for immigrant labor (though not admitted), the US magnet will continue to attract those seeking a better life.

     "México should be doing more to clamp down on the drug traffic." The problem with the rising level of drug trade violence is that México HAS been clamping down on that business in México. That's the cause of instability and violence in the local drug cartels. Again, as in immigrant labor, the US should think about shutting down their market. As said before, México doesn't want this business.

     "Mexican migrants overload the welfare system in the US". In a way, this is true. But this is mainly because the jobs that many immigrants work at provide no benefits. Where are they to turn? In the Canadian system of "guest workers," the employers are required to provide such services to the workers and prevailing wages. But in the illegal labor market of the US, this is not done. Additionally, the general cut back on health benefits for many in the US is a big contributor to this overload. Remember that illegals came to work, not collect welfare.

     "Mexican illegals are throwing honest US workers out of jobs". This flies in the face of reality. With unemployment in the US less than 5% while the illegal flow is increasing, it would seem that the illegals are helping the overall picture. If nothing else, the illegals are enabling the US workers to go to better jobs.

     "México exports their lazy and shiftless." As in the past, with all immigration waves, it is the more ambitious that have the courage and drive to make the hard trip to a new country. How many US citizens would risk the dangers that the Mexicans go through to better their lives?

     "Mexicans refuse to learn English." Not so. Foremost in all immigrants' minds is learning the language of the land that they are living in. Language gives you more freedom of where you work, helps you "blend in" and gives you a better chance of assimilating. Many arriving Mexican families send their children to school to learn English by "total immersion". The last thing that they want is bilingual education, which only delays the process.

     "Mexicans are destroying the US culture." Well, just how did the US "culture" survive Irish, German, Chinese, Italian, Polish (and so on) culture imports? The US simply absorbed these cultures into the greater US culture. This doesn't mean that immigrants should abandon their ethnic roots. Go to any large eastern city on 17 March or western cities on Chinese New Year, if you get the drift. So, get used to Cinco de Mayo.

     Continuing on the language problem, I remember a recent conversation with a Mexican illegal in the US. He asked how I survived in México with my bad Spanish. My reply was that since I was a legal immigrant not hiding in México, I get by nicely. On the other hand, I pointed out that in his case, good English was paramount to his survival because he was not legal. He thought about that and agreed. He has been in the US for about three years, speaks good English and works two jobs, never collected any welfare and pays his share of taxes. And for the most part he is typical.

     Consider the Mexican illegals' impact on the US Social Security System. The SSS estimates that they collect around $7 billion in contributions yearly from illegals (using phony SS cards). These contributors will never collect retirement benefits. The extra funds prolong the bankruptcy of the SSS by a good number of years.

     The US needs to add around one million new workers a year to keep up with the increasing retirement rate, with the declining US birthrate only providing about half of that. Where will the workers come from? Simplistic and populist answers won't solve the problem.

     Fox was asked how long it would take for México to diminish the huge gap in living standards to the US, he replied after a long pause, "Generations."

     My advice for México (if we still want to have any Mexicans left down here) is to get started on living standard improvement instead of just saying it is impossible. They should take a look at what China is doing in creating a strong internal market.

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Richard N. Baldwin T., a HispanicVista.com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/) contributing columnist, lives in Tlalnepantla, Edo de México. E-mail at: R1041643422@aol.com